PEACEFUL, ORDERLY BSKE. Voters patiently wait in one of the voting centers in Agusan National High School in Butuan City during the conduct of the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) on Monday (Oct. 30, 2023). The Police Regional Office in the Caraga Region declares that the BSKE in the region has been peaceful and orderly. (PNA photo by Alexander Lopez)
BUTUAN CITY – Over 90 percent of ballot boxes and paraphernalia utilized during the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) in the Caraga Region have been returned to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) offices as of Tuesday morning.
This indicates a smooth and orderly conduct of the BSKE in the region, police said, citing wide public support for the measures implemented during the Oct. 30 BSKE.
In Butuan City, the Treasurer’s Office said that 643 ballot boxes distributed to 86 barangays during the BSKE were already returned.
In Surigao del Sur, the local Comelec office said 94.8% of the election paraphernalia have been brought back from the villages.
Other local Comelec offices in the region's five provinces reported the same levels of returned election paraphernalia, indicating that no delays were experienced throughout the voting hours.
They said the remaining ballot boxes still being transported were those coming from the far-flung barangays.
In a press briefing on Monday evening, Police Regional Office in the Caraga Region (PRO-13) said the elections all over the region has been "peaceful and orderly."
PRO-13 director, Brig. Gen. Kirby John Kraft, said deployed police personnel will continue to render their services until the ballots are counted and all voting paraphernalia are returned to the local offices of the Comelec.
Davao City BSKE
In Davao City, the Police Regional Office in Davao Region (PRO-11) on Tuesday attributed the peaceful BSKE to the efforts of the security forces as well as the cooperation of the public.
“The Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections 2023 in Davao Region were generally peaceful. Indeed, together we have protected our citizenry's right to suffrage which is a basic tenet of our democracy,” Brig. Gen. Alden Delvo, PRO-11 director, said in an interview.
Delvo said he visited polling precincts in the region, especially the areas of concern, to ensure "that security preparations are implemented towards a peaceful, safe, and orderly election."
Areas visited included Davao del Sur, which had 10 election areas of concern, the highest in the region. (PNA)
